D.S. Machine Stove

Well, I guess my name would more appropriately be..."Amish-wanna-be". I live in Holmes County's Amish country in Ohio, and am trying to adapt my lifestyle to be a little closer to the Amish than to everyone else. We just bought 11 acres and are going to start doing some large scale gardening and small scale farming. The stove that we're getting is made by D.S. Machine. Never heard of them, but its what the Amish are heating their homes with in this area. The unit requires no electricity to operate (hopper fed, but no auger, no blower, etc.). Unit will be in the basement in the center of the house and will gravity flow through a 24"X30" grate that is hooded directly above the stove. Cold-air returns are on the perimeter of the house for return air to the basement.

Just found a local source of Blaschak coal and have 10 tons on the way. Price for nut is currently $205/ton delivered for bulk and $237/ton bagged.

Anybody know anything about D.S. Machine? P.S. if anyone sees der Bishop, don't tell him I'm using der computer...OK?

Hey, you could do alot worse than trying to adopt the Amish lifestyle. I had an addition put on last year by some Amish craftsman and I was very impressed with them personally and professionally. I have an Amish clothes line off of my deck. It's great. Clothes smell fresh and the cost to dry them is zero.

coalkirk wrote: I have an Amish clothes line off of my deck. It's great. Clothes smell fresh and the cost to dry them is zero.

How long must they hang to dry at this time of year? and do they still smell fresh?

As long as it is above freezing, not too long. There is usually a breeze going this time of the year and the air is dry. I just figure if I'm going to stick it to the oil man, I might as well try to do the same with the electric company.

My 2 buddies have d&s stoves, they came from western pa, I think that that is where they are made. Anyway my 1 friend was using an alaska 90 thousand btu and burning about 7 tons for the year. He switched to D&S stove and went to 5.5 tons for the year and he said house is 8-10 degrees warmer. So he likes it very much, but it also took 5 of us to get it off the truck into the house

stcoal wrote:My 2 buddies have d&s stoves, they came from western pa, I think that that is where they are made. Anyway my 1 friend was using an alaska 90 thousand btu and burning about 7 tons for the year. He switched to D&S stove and went to 5.5 tons for the year and he said house is 8-10 degrees warmer. So he likes it very much, but it also took 5 of us to get it off the truck into the house

That is VERY encouraging!! I really didn't know very much about them, but the Amish I've talked to just love them. All I have to do now is to re-learn how to fire and maintain a coal stove. Last time was 30 years ago when I was 13 years old. I hear things have changed a bit since then.

Amishdude wrote: All I have to do now is to re-learn how to fire and maintain a coal stove. Last time was 30 years ago when I was 13 years old. I hear things have changed a bit since then.

Just remember the coal is 30 years older too, so its probably a lot grumpier.

coaledsweat wrote:

Amishdude wrote: All I have to do now is to re-learn how to fire and maintain a coal stove. Last time was 30 years ago when I was 13 years old. I hear things have changed a bit since then.

Just remember the coal is 30 years older too, so its probably a lot grumpier.

Oh, I hope you're wrong about that. But then...time DID have that effect on my wife.

I'm half Amish myself. Seriously, we try to do things the old way and make most of what we use. I use a tractor and a computer. I have a TV set up so the kids can watch videos and play Nintendo but we don't have any TV channels. We are probably more anti-consumerism and anti-commercialism than anything else but people think we're Amish just because I have a beard and no mustache, we do use buttons. The kids go to public school. I have oil and gas lamps but we mostly use the electric ones. In my barn there is no electricity or anything modern, when I'm in there it is really no different than if it was the 1800's.

Amishdude , could you post a picture of your DS machine stove . i'm curious to see what they look like. thanks

Yea, can't find them online anywhwere.

BK

Here are a few photos:











Ain't she beautiful?

Great looking stove. I like the large window . Good luck Any idea how many BTUs? and what they sell for? Yours looks brand new.

Yeah, it's new. Just had it installed yesterday. I have to install a half-dozen floor return grills before I can fire her up for the first time. I believe they said that this unit is good for 90,000 BTU. I'll be heating about 1800 sq. ft. of living space and should get enough spill into the basement to bring it up to a usable temp in the process. I paid $1,295 installed for this unit. Have NO IDEA if that's good or if I got raped. I couldn't find anyone else selling D.S. stoves to compare it.

That sounds likea good price to me, even without the instalation.

Greg L.

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